Make Your Point > Archived Issues > VAPID

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connect today's word to others: Something vapid has no substance, no excitement; it's boring and stale. Think of sipping on a flat Coke or a glass of stale wine: the flavor is missing, and so is the enjoyment. It makes sense, then, that the word vapid comes from the Latin word for "flat" or "with the vapor exhaled:" vapidus, the same word that gave us vapor and evaporate. (And vappa, a rare word for wine that's gone sour or flat.) Let's recall some synonyms of vapid: 1. Something j_j__e is not important, not interesting, and not exciting. 2. Something pa___d is pale and looks sickly, or it has no sparkle, no strength, no liveliness. 3. Something non______pt is hard to describe because it's not interesting: it has no features that stand out, no color, no life. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "VAPID" Vapid things and people remind you of a flat, tasteless drink, because they're dull and boring, with no liveliness and no significance. Pronunciation: VAP id Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a vapid thing" or "a vapid person." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was vapid" or "He was vapid.") Other forms: vapidly, vapidness/vapidity ("vuh PID ih tee") How to use it: Maybe because the sound and meaning are so similar to the word "stupid," our word "vapid" carries a harsh, negative tone. Use it with care as you talk about vapid food and drinks and flavors, vapid people and personalities, vapid faces and smiles and expressions, vapid comments and conversation, vapid titles and taglines, vapid themes and thoughts and sentiments, vapid writing and stories and dialogue, vapid consumerism and consumption, vapid entertainment, etc. examples: Don't order their "Creamy Pub Mac and Cheese;" the sauce is thin and vapid. A few years ago I resolved to stop clicking on vapid articles, you know, the ones with titles like "21 Celebrities Who Got Outrageous Plastic Surgery." study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "vapid" means when you can explain it without saying "insipid" or "uninspiring." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "I'm not a fan of _____; I find the _____ vapid." Example: "I'm not a fan of crime dramas; I find the storylines vapid." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing "Game of Games!" Guess the one-word title of each board game, using your knowledge of vocabulary. From our previous issue:  Designed by Mac Gerdts, this game has players competing for power during the glory days of Europe. Board Game Geek reports that the winner is "he who succeeds in increasing his capital and gaining influence in the most powerful European nations." The game's title means "related to an emperor or an empire; authoritative and commanding like an emperor; or grand, magnificent, and fine, as if made for an emperor." It's pictured below, with the title blurred out. What game is this? Answer: Imperial. Check out the game here and the word here. Try this today:  Designed by Cristyn Magnus, this game has players taking on the role of merchants, competing to develop the local community and buy their way into the nobility. The game's title means "a person who is very important and distinguished, usually in the world of business." It's pictured below, with the title blurred out. What game is this? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of VAPID is A. VAUNTED. B. VITIATED. C. VIVACIOUS. 2. Unless you count its vapidity, there's nothing _____ about the show Peppa Pig. A. offensive B. imaginative C. philosophical Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. A